Diploma in Tax Practice

The Diploma in Tax Practice at SCQF level 8 is a new work-based qualification that enables learners to demonstrate their skills and aptitude in tax practice.

Part of the Technical Apprenticeship in Professional Services, this Diploma offers a blend of technical knowledge, wider competence and business skills that employers have indicated are needed to enable apprentices to operate effectively and productively in a tax environment.

This qualification is one of four Diplomas that SQA offers which sit in the Professional Services Technical Apprenticeship framework. The others are:

The Diploma enables the learner to demonstrate both underpinning knowledge and performance evidence of competence in tax practice.

It is based on the current version of National Occupational Standards, defined by the Financial and Legal Skills Partnership which is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the financial services sector.

The Diploma in Tax Practice will be offered within a workplace environment allowing learners to demonstrate their achievement of the qualification by collecting evidence naturally through their day-to-day work role.

Who does this qualification suit

The Diploma in Tax Practice is suitable for those currently employed in a tax function looking to enhance, develop or certificate their skills and experience. The Diploma in Tax Practice is suitable for:

learners who may have just left school

mature candidates who may have been out of education for some time

individuals who are currently in employment and who wish to obtain a formal qualification

employers who wish their employees to obtain a qualification in tax practice.

Access

No prior qualifications or knowledge are required to undertake this qualification; however, learners must be employed in a suitable position to allow them to generate the evidence for the qualification.

While entry is at the discretion of the centre the Diploma in Tax Practice is a challenging qualification and, as such, learners should have a good standard of education (SCQF level 6 or above) or appropriate work experience.

Progression

The combination of the level 8 Diploma in Tax Practice and the work experience in tax will provide learners with a variety of opportunities to continue their career, for example, a:

in a more senior position in taxation

to study for a relevant professional qualification

or to study on a relevant degree programme

Approval

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Guide to Approval.

How to assess

Assessment of this Diploma will be through a series of theoretical and practical assessments or tasks. Most of the assessment is likely to take place in the learner’s place of work and the learner will build up a portfolio of evidence.

Where can you take this course?

Location (UK only):

Qualification content and delivery tools

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

Group Award Code: GJ11 48

The Diploma in Tax Practice at SCQF level 8 consists of 12 mandatory Units. Please refer to the Qualification Structure (166 KB) for details on the Units making up this Qualification Structure for details on the Units making up this qualification.

National Occupational Standards

Apprenticeships

The Diploma in Tax Practice is a mandatory component of the Technical Apprenticeship in Professional Services at SCQF level 8. Technical Apprenticeships offer those aged over 16 paid employment combined with the opportunity to train for jobs at senior supervisory and management level.

The Diploma is one of three components of the Technical apprenticeship — the tax practice component. Learners are also required to undertake a technical knowledge component and a career skills component. To satisfy the career skills component learners must achieve a minimum of two career skills Units amounting to at least 15 SCQF credit points. Please refer to the list of career skills Units (92 KB) for details of the Units that SQA offers.

This Technical Apprenticeship framework provides the skills, knowledge and competence required to work in a wide range of job roles in taxation.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material